This is the surpriseAt that time, an enraged elephant swung at a devotee with its trunk during its attack on an Indian temple.
Footage shows the elephant grabbing the man by the leg and throwing him at a religious festival at the BP Angadi mosque in Malappuram, Kerala, on January 6.
This caused frantic worshipers to stampede, flee from the animal and run to safety.
Nearby elephant riders can be seen comforting the distressed animal, which had a golden helmet adorning its head, and removing some of the ornaments in an attempt to ease its aggression.
The man thrown by the mammal reportedly suffered serious injuries, while 23 other worshipers were injured in the stampede, according to police.
Thrissur Pooram, one of the most prominent religious festivals of the region, is a spectacular temple celebration held in the cultural capital of the state.
The festival is famous for its impressive elephant processions, where decorated elephants march to the beat of drums.
In Kerala, known as God’s Own Country, elephants form an integral part of the cultural ethos and are deeply connected with the religious and social functions of the state.
Footage shows the elephant, which had a golden headdress adorning its head, grabbing the man by the leg and throwing him at a religious festival at the BP Angadi mosque in Malappuram, Kerala, on January 6.
The elephant was seen swinging the man by his leg after grabbing him with its trunk. This caused frantic worshipers to stampede, flee from the animal and run to safety.
Nearby elephant riders can be seen comforting the distressed animal and removing some of the ornaments it is wearing in an attempt to alleviate its aggression.
Its presence in Hindu temple festivities is considered auspicious.
The subcontinent has at least 30,000 wild elephants, more than any other country and about 60 percent of the entire world’s Asian elephant population.
This comes after a Spanish tourist died when an elephant forcefully knocked her down with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary in Thailand.
Blanca Ojanguren García, 22, from Valladolid, was bathing an elephant on January 3 at the Koh Yao sanctuary, on the Thai island of Yao Yai, when the animal suddenly inflicted a fatal blow on her.
García, a law and international relations student, was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later died.
According to Spanish national newspaper El País, the incident was confirmed by local police and the elephant care center, which currently remains closed.
Reports had previously claimed that the university student had been gored by the elephant, but Spanish news agency EFE verified that this was not the case.
The incident was confirmed by local police and the sanctuary, which is currently closed as a result of the tragic accident.
The festival is famous for its impressive elephant processions, where decorated elephants march to the beat of drums.
Blanca Ojanguren García, 22, from Valladolid, died in Thailand after an elephant forcefully knocked her down with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that there were around 18 people present at the time of the incident, including García’s boyfriend. No one else was reportedly injured.
The Spaniard was a student at the University of Navarra but lived in Taiwan while completing six months of studies abroad at the University of Tamkang.
He would have completed his bachelor’s degree this year.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Bangkok was in contact with García’s family.
His body has since been transferred to a hospital on the island of Phuket, where repatriation procedures are being prepared.
The mayor of Valladolid, Jesús Julio Carnero, went to X to offer his “deepest condolences” to García’s family.